Historic status of 1920s house displeases owner

Lauderdale's decision restricts what can be done with duplex

The details that compelled John Kirchner to invest in a Victoria Park duplex in July were the same details that made the city deem it historic earlier this month, to his dismay.

The City Commission voted to designate Kirchner's rental unit because the Historic Preservation Board said the property was "an island of 1928 in a sea of 1970s buildings."

Though historic designation can bring cash incentives such as tax credits and matching grant programs for preservation, there are strings attached that could slow down and possibly increase the cost of necessary repairs, Kirchner said.

"The perks certainly don't outweigh not having the option to do whatever you want to do with the property," he said.

Historians have been racing against developers to preserve older city buildings, with Kirchner's being one of three to appear before the City Commission this year.

For Kirchner, the designation means significant renovations to the house must be approved by the board and fit sometimes costly standards.

Hurricane-proofing the house without blemishing the clay exterior will be very expensive, said architect Leo Hansen, who spoke at the commission meeting.

Kirchner's lawyer, Patricia Rathburn, said the decision reduces the value of the property by almost $200,000 because it limits future buyers, such as a developer who might want to tear down the building to construct town homes.

According to records, the land and building are assessed at almost $600,000. "It's not fair to put that burden on a property owner that doesn't want it," Rathburn said.

When Kirchner bought the house at 1610-1612 NE Second Court, the Historic Preservation Board was already considering it for the designation to preserve the building. But after doing some research, Kirchner assumed his property would be excluded because it had no famous residents and it wasn't unique.

The board disagreed with him and in October voted 5-1 in favor of recommending the historic label to the City Commission. The historians argued the house was a disappearing example of the Spanish Eclectic style of architecture popular in the 1920s, which made it important to preserve the history of the neighborhood.

"Sometimes we feel bad for the owner," said board chairman Nolan Haan. "But the purpose of our board is only to look at the historic significance of a building and recommend if it's worth preserving."